PlayMakers Laboratory Summer Internship

PlayMakers Laboratory is currently seeking a summer Education Intern. Our internships are immersive and allow interns to get a sense of PlayMakers Laboratory’s artistic and educational programming while supporting the efforts of the education department of the organization. Our summer intern will support summer program assessment and summer education programming. They will also be welcome to attend and observe staff meetings, shows, rehearsals, and other events, based on their interests.

Dates: June 1-July 31, 2026 (Flexible depending on intern’s schedule)

Responsibilities: 

• Assist in organizing and coding stories to be used in our student assessment.
• Participate in assessment of student writing and compiling assessment results.
• Assist summer residency teachers in the park storytelling/creative drama workshops.
• Other administrative tasks and projects, as assigned.

Necessary Skills:

• Competency working with Microsoft Office Suite/Google Apps Suite.
• Proficiency and willingness to transcribe handwritten documents to be digitized.
• Strong attention to detail
• Outstanding organizational skills
• Commitment to working collaboratively
• Interest in programs that support and champion the voices of students
• Interest in Theatre Education, Creative Writing, Assessment, Dramaturgy and Archiving

PlayMakers Laboratory values its interns immensely and works hard to provide an environment that is engaging, challenging, educational, and fun. Our small staff works in an open and collaborative environment and we welcome interns to adopt that spirit of collaboration while they are on our team.

We do not have a physical office space. This means that many of our tasks such as meetings and student assessments, are conducted virtually via Google Meet. However, our rehearsals, park shows and gala fundraiser events are all done in person at various sites across Chicago, providing a unique and hands-on experience for our summer interns. We are looking for proactive and adaptable individuals who are comfortable working in a virtual environment for certain tasks, while also being able to thrive in in-person settings for rehearsals and events.

Internships are paid a $900 stipend and may be undertaken for school credit. The summer internship will have a preferred time commitment of 10-15 hours per week.

Please send a letter of interest and resume to Program Director Brandon Cloyd, bcloyd@playmakerslab.org

Must be 18 or older to apply.

PlayMakers Laboratory is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status or disability.

PlayMakers Laboratory (PML) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in its 20th year. We provide arts education programs to students aged 7-13 throughout Chicago, focused on storytelling, theater, and social-emotional skills.

Our objectives are:

to teach fundamental creative writing skills;

to provide consistent and nurturing attention to each student over a sustained period of time ;

to build each student’s confidence in self-expression, self-esteem, and writing skills;

to perform high quality, professional theater to the students we serve and the broader community; and

to form lasting partnerships.

Our Mission

PlayMakers Laboratory (PML) is an ensemble of teaching artists who create an experiential learning environment in which students share their personal voices and celebrate the power of their imaginations. PML accomplishes this through creative writing workshops and in-school performances of student stories. PML also engages the broader community in support of the visions of young people through public performances of their work.

Our Vision

A radically kind Chicago that champions children’s ideas.

Applications close 11:59 pm CDT Wednesday, March 18 2026.